Browsing by Subject "Cost-benefit analysis"
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Item Open Access A Hard Bargain? A cost-benefit analysis of an improved cookstove program in India(2016-08-01) Pinto, AlishaIn developing countries, access to modern energy for cooking and heating still remains a challenge to raising households out of poverty. About 2.5 billion people depend on solid fuels such as biomass, wood, charcoal and animal dung. The use of solid fuels has negative outcomes for health, the environment and economic development (Universal Energy Access, UNDP). In low income countries, 1.3 million deaths occur due to indoor smoke or air pollution from burning solid fuels in small, confined and unventilated kitchens or homes. In addition, pollutants such as black carbon, methane and ozone, emitted when burning inefficient fuels, are responsible for a fraction of the climate change and air pollution. There are international efforts to promote the use of clean cookstoves in developing countries but limited evidence on the economic benefits of such distribution programs. This study undertook a systematic economic evaluation of a program that distributed subsidized improved cookstoves to rural households in India. The evaluation examined the effect of different levels of subsidies on the net benefits to the household and to society. This paper answers the question, “Ex post, what are the economic benefits to various stakeholders of a program that distributed subsidized improved cookstoves?” In addressing this question, the evaluation used empirical data from India applied to a cost-benefit model to examine how subsidies affect the costs and the benefits of the biomass improved cookstove and the electric improved cookstove to different stakeholders.Item Open Access Clean Water Through Conservation in the Jordan Lake Watershed(2019-04-25) Tucker, Emily; Ray, James; Parks, RyanWatershed management is becoming increasingly holistic. Novel approaches are needed to satisfy the interests of diverse stakeholders – including municipal water users, environmental groups, and agricultural communities. In the rapidly developing Jordan Lake Watershed, stakeholders are eagerly seeking comprehensive approaches to prevent further water quality degradation and the loss and fragmentation of ecological resources. We present an approach for identifying these opportunities. First, we identify high quality natural areas that should be protected to maintain water quality. Second, we highlight riparian restoration areas that maximize pollutant retention and bridge the watershed’s biodiversity hotspots. Finally, we evaluate the financial costs and benefits farmers face when adopting conservation agricultural practices to determine where they will be most successful. In combination, these practices can protect, connect and restore a high-functioning watershed.Item Open Access Energy, Economics, and Politics: An Analysis of Decisions to Pursue Large Hydropower Projects in Bhutan and Nepal(2017-11-15) Ridel, RobertLarge hydropower projects are on the rise. Once subject to universal condemnation by environmentalists and largely abandoned by international donors, these projects have been reborn as a critical component of “sustainable development” in the age of climate change. This resurgence of interest in large hydropower projects raises questions for policymakers about whether these projects provide a net benefit to their constituents. While rigorous economic analyses could provide guidance to the policymakers grappling with these questions, the complexity of this endeavor and the politics that almost always enmesh large infrastructure projects mean that decisions to pursue these projects are likely influenced by a different calculus—one that may vary across countries based on their unique history and political dynamics. Nepal and Bhutan, two developing countries that hold tremendous hydropower potential, provide an illustration of how these decisions are being carried out and what is driving them. This paper examines the political discourse surrounding hydropower projects in each country and how the projects fit within their development narrative. It also includes a cost-benefit analysis of two large projects that were recently pushed forward, Punatsangchhu I (or “Puna I”) in Bhutan and Arun III in Nepal. This paper concludes that the overwhelming economic benefit of the hydropower generated by these projects has driven and will continue to drive development in both Bhutan and Nepal, with the potential to bring substantial net benefits to the region. As a result, people who are concerned about the social and environmental costs of projects may be more successful in arguing for stronger safeguards for projects rather than a complete halt in their development. The economic value of clean energy for an area that has not been fully electrified is simply too large for policymakers to ignore. This paper also considers the role of political and international dynamics in development choices and the shadow price of capital, and how these factors could explain why Bhutan has made more progress in hydropower development than Nepal.Item Open Access EVALUATE NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS FOR FLOOD MANAGEMENT IN CHINESE CITIES: A CASE STUDY OF NINGBO, ZHEJIANG(2024-04-26) Chen, Lufei; Dong, SiyuThis Master's Project delves into the pressing issue of flood management strategies in Ningbo, China, a region vulnerable to riverine flooding. As China experiences an unprecedented surge in urbanization, propelled by rapid industrialization and economic growth, cities face a plethora of challenges, including strained infrastructure, environmental degradation, and increased vulnerability to climate change impacts. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of NbS in enhancing urban resilience against flood risks, addressing the intricate interplay between urbanization and environmental degradation. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative spatial analyses with qualitative literature reviews and document analyses. A systematic review of policies related to NbS in China reveals that while the country lacks a comprehensive policy system dedicated to NbS, relevant policy contents are scattered across various ministries, each using context-specific terminology. The study identifies flood management as the most pressing challenge faced by Chinese coastal cities, particularly in the Yangtze River Delta, where millions of people are already exposed to the serious risks of severe floods and storms, a phenomenon expected to intensify due to climate change. Through GIS-based Analytical Hierarchy Process and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis, a flood susceptibility map is generated to identify high-risk areas along Ningbo's riverbanks. The analysis integrates diverse criteria, such as elevation, slope, rainfall, and land use land cover, into a unified decision-making process. Considering complex socio-economic factors, Fenghua River in Guangdu Village, Fenghua District, is selected as the research site for examining the implementation of Setback Levees as the preferred NbS. A Cost-Benefit Analysis is conducted to assess the economic viability of implementing Setback Levees in the selected area over a 10-year period. The analysis covers initial and ongoing expenses, reduction in flood-related damages, opportunity costs, transaction costs, and potential ecological or social externalities. The results demonstrate a favorable Benefit-Cost Ratio of approximately 11.95, indicating that the potential benefits significantly outweigh the costs. Sensitivity analysis further confirms the robustness of the project's economic feasibility under various scenarios. The findings contribute to the strategic planning and implementation of flood control measures that are adaptive to climate change, sustainable, and aligned with ecosystem-based management principles. The study highlights the potential of NbS as a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable alternative to traditional flood control measures, offering valuable insights for urban flood management in Ningbo and other delta cities across China facing similar challenges of urbanization and climate change. By integrating NbS into urban planning and policy frameworks, cities can build resilience to climate change while simultaneously promoting ecological sustainability and socio-economic development.Item Open Access Impact of selection of cord blood units from the United States and swiss registries on the cost of banking operations.(Transfusion medicine and hemotherapy : offizielles Organ der Deutschen Gesellschaft fur Transfusionsmedizin und Immunhamatologie, 2013-02) Bart, Thomas; Boo, Michael; Balabanova, Snejana; Fischer, Yvonne; Nicoloso, Grazia; Foeken, Lydia; Oudshoorn, Machteld; Passweg, Jakob; Tichelli, Andre; Kindler, Vincent; Kurtzberg, Joanne; Price, Thomas; Regan, Donna; Shpall, Elizabeth J; Schwabe, RudolfBackground
Over the last 2 decades, cord blood (CB) has become an important source of blood stem cells. Clinical experience has shown that CB is a viable source for blood stem cells in the field of unrelated hematopoietic blood stem cell transplantation.Methods
Studies of CB units (CBUs) stored and ordered from the US (National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) and Swiss (Swiss Blood Stem Cells (SBSQ)) CB registries were conducted to assess whether these CBUs met the needs of transplantation patients, as evidenced by units being selected for transplantation. These data were compared to international banking and selection data (Bone Marrow Donors Worldwide (BMDW), World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA)). Further analysis was conducted on whether current CB banking practices were economically viable given the units being selected from the registries for transplant. It should be mentioned that our analysis focused on usage, deliberately omitting any information about clinical outcomes of CB transplantation.Results
A disproportionate number of units with high total nucleated cell (TNC) counts are selected, compared to the distribution of units by TNC available. Therefore, the decision to use a low threshold for banking purposes cannot be supported by economic analysis and may limit the economic viability of future public CB banking.Conclusions
We suggest significantly raising the TNC level used to determine a bankable unit. A level of 125 × 10(7) TNCs, maybe even 150 × 10(7) TNCs, might be a viable banking threshold. This would improve the return on inventory investments while meeting transplantation needs based on current selection criteria.